Men Stepping Up | FamilyLifehttp://mensteppingup.com
A call to courageous manhood.Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:51:13 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3This Was A Great Experiencehttp://mensteppingup.com/this-was-a-great-experience/
http://mensteppingup.com/this-was-a-great-experience/#respondThu, 07 Aug 2014 21:06:08 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2813The Stepping Up 10 Week Series was amazing. Nine men met each week and our attendance held strong the entire session. On night one, I was fielding questions about start and end times but by week three that was replaced with guys visiting for 30 minutes or longer after we wrapped up.

The videos capture your attention and are designed perfectly for men. The work book exercises were practical and gave you a road map of how to step up and provided practical takeaways to get you started. We ended the series with a commissioning ceremony with each guy sharing his next step and agreeing to continue to meet once a month for accountability on how we are taking action to step up.

As a group leader, this was a great experience. You will not regret getting some guys together to go through this material. Pray for who you should invite, talk to them and ask them to join you on this adventure and let the Holy Spirit do the rest!

Craig Paulsen

Covenant Celebration Church

Omaha, NE

]]>http://mensteppingup.com/this-was-a-great-experience/feed/0Transformation in the lives of the menhttp://mensteppingup.com/transformation-in-the-lives-of-the-men/
http://mensteppingup.com/transformation-in-the-lives-of-the-men/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:13:41 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2639OurUnashamed: Men of Purpose leadership team had a meeting last night to debrief the conference from Saturday; which is why I’m delayed on getting back to you.

Based on their feedback, along with the evaluations from conference attendees, the overall experience was overwhelmingly positive. What we face, specifically, here in our church and geographical area is a culture of men who struggle with digging deeper into matters of eternal implication. Our leadership team has been on a mission the last 18 months to change or shift that culture, moving men casual observers to intentional leaders in their family, church, workplace, and community.

TheStepping Up one-day video event was another strong step in helping us accomplish this mission. In one way or another, the men attending shared the revelation that in order for them to step up and step out in courageous manhood they need Christ and His power to be their fuel – their wisdom and strength. So putting Christ first and cultivating that relationship with Him is crucial. To me this is a good indicator of transformation in the lives of the men. The additional comments stated in the evaluation of the event were more of a practical nature – men determining what their next move was to be. So, undoubtedly all the information presented to them by each speaker made quite the impact – enough to shake them out of their seats.

Last night at our leadership team meeting, we were struck particularly by comments made by the men age 60+. Largely many of the men from that older generation felt their time was up, and that they had nothing left to give in life. We were puzzled by that, especially given the segments on “mentoring”. Now you and I both know that mentoring isn’t age-specific, but we need the older men pouring into the lives of younger men; and quite frankly, the younger men want that. As a leadership team, we were compelled to figure out a way…a better way to engage the “patriarchs” in our church and raise them up to be courageous leaders by mentoring the younger generation. We’re not entirely clear how to do this in a compelling and practical way. So any insight you all at FamilyLife could give us would be much appreciated. We would welcome the opportunity to partner with you in addressing this widespread issue.

We sincerely covet FamilyLife’s prayers for the men God has placed under our leadership, that they will dig a little deeper and see that God has immeasurably more for them than they could ever ask or imagine. We appreciate you and FamilyLife for following the leading of God to createStepping Up. Our enthusiasm is soaring as we prepare to launch into the 10-weekStepping Up series here in the next week or so. Your prayers are appreciated for this.

Justin from PA

]]>http://mensteppingup.com/transformation-in-the-lives-of-the-men/feed/0Thank you for helping my friendhttp://mensteppingup.com/thank-you-for-helping-my-friend/
http://mensteppingup.com/thank-you-for-helping-my-friend/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:09:24 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2638I asked my friend Stew to come with me to the event. He said he would. He is a new believer in his late 30s who has severely struggled with his marriage. The day after the event, I learned he was on fire about what he had learned. He wants to do the 10-week study. He played some of the videos back to his wife to see. He shared in Sunday school some of the things he learned. He kept going on and on. His wife shared that he spent the rest of his evening reading his event manual. It hit me: this is probably the first time he has been surrounded by a large group of men who love God. Plus, this may have been the first time he learned what God’s design is for a man. Thank you for helping my friend and me grow as godly young men.
]]>http://mensteppingup.com/thank-you-for-helping-my-friend/feed/0Great Stuff!http://mensteppingup.com/great-stuff/
http://mensteppingup.com/great-stuff/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:08:12 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2637The variety! It was powerful seeing the different speakers in the different venues sharing their portions. Interspersing the information with humor and vignettes helped to drive the points home. Crawford Loritt’s sharing about his dad brought me to tears–I feel the same way about my own father who is with Jesus. Great stuff throughout the whole thing!
]]>http://mensteppingup.com/great-stuff/feed/0He left knowing he needs Christhttp://mensteppingup.com/he-left-knowing-he-needs-christ/
http://mensteppingup.com/he-left-knowing-he-needs-christ/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:07:00 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2636We had several men attend our event that came from a local rescue mission. They are men struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Men who are alienated from their families. Men who have really made a hash of things. I had the chance to talk with one such young man. He was mid-twenties and had a crack addiction. I was surprised to learn that he had a daughter and has not seen her in a while. I was blow away when this young man said that this conference reminded him of the awesome responsibility and privilege he has as a man to love his children. He said it motivated him to get off the drugs and clean up his life. And because we took so much time to speak directly and explicitly about the Gospel, he left knowing that He needs Christ to do it.
]]>http://mensteppingup.com/he-left-knowing-he-needs-christ/feed/0She Wanted To Thank Mehttp://mensteppingup.com/she-wanted-to-thank-me/
http://mensteppingup.com/she-wanted-to-thank-me/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:05:09 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2635I had a woman approach me this morning in tears. At first I was concerned that something was wrong, but she actually wanted to come and thank me for the Men Stepping Up classes we are currently holding. She was on the phone with her husband this morning and he asked her if she was alright because she sounded a bit distressed. She shared with him that she was just struggling with her work load and said it would be ok. He offered to pray with her on the phone, something he had not done in their previous 28 years of marriage. She said he has been praying more with her in the last couple weeks because of our discussions at the MSU lessons, but never before, just in the moment, stopped a conversation and prayed with her. She wanted to thank me for offering the MSU lessons and for helping her husband learn about prayerful leadership.

Just thought you would want to know.

]]>http://mensteppingup.com/she-wanted-to-thank-me/feed/0They Were Blown Away…http://mensteppingup.com/they-were-blown-away/
http://mensteppingup.com/they-were-blown-away/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:03:26 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2634I will be doing session 10 with my guys at the GF Rescue Mission, now about 18 or so. This is the second trip through the material since many men were not involved at the beginning last fall. Has been the most well-received material for these men, and seems that each session rocks the worlds of at least a couple of men weekly.

From my group of men from my church, Great Falls Christian Center, there will be 3 men “Stepping Up” to lead men’s sessions. Two men will be doing the Stepping Up material and have at least 12 guys signed up as of last week. They are blown away to say the least. Another young man who went through the SU sessions will be using Pat Morley’s new release “How God Makes a Man” and has about 8 guys signed up. Yet another man, who I mentioned in my last communique, is now finishing his sessions and may continue on with Stu Weber’s, Tender Warrior.

Our church as a pretty substantial singles group, say mid 20’s to early 30’s and they are drawing out of that setting. Will be a very rich pool to continue to draw from.

Wanted you and Dennis to know that the Lord is moving upon the hearts of the men in our church, and yet again thanks to all, especially Dennis for creating this great resource.

Also in closing, I had a friend call from Alaska on Saturday, and we spoke and he was mentioning their desire to do something with men, and sent him to the Family Life site immediately,

Mike Knight
Great Falls, Montana

]]>http://mensteppingup.com/they-were-blown-away/feed/0A Huge Success!http://mensteppingup.com/a-huge-success/
http://mensteppingup.com/a-huge-success/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 17:01:12 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2633The retreat was a huge success! We had 23 men attend the event. Many if not all of the men left with a fire burning inside calling them to step up and be the men God has called them to be. What an encouraging weekend! Our retreat was in the middle of the woods at a huge lodge owned by one of the members of our church. Up there everyone was able to put the stresses and distractions of everyday life on pause, which allowed them to truly listen and think about the videos, the personal time, and the group discussions. Throughout the weekend, many men shared their hearts, teared up, and were greatly encouraged.

After the worship service on Sunday (still up at the lodge), our assistant pastor explained how he really enjoyed the group time, but was curious how the other groups went. This opened up an hour or more long discussion of how we can’t let this just be a great weekend, and how we need to continue what has been started. I asked that the men to let me know if they were interested in doing the 10-week study. Immediately several of them boldly said “I’M IN!” We also discussed the need to start a Sunday school where each man in the class leads the study of one chapter from the Stepping Up book. So this Sunday, we have reserved a ministry table to discuss details and get other men that did not attend the retreat to join us in the 10-week study and/or the Sunday school.

I am truly grateful for FamilyLife, and for all you all have done to help our church grow closer to our God and Savior. It is my prayer that the men of Grace Covenant Church become holy, humble, and courageous servants of the LORD.

]]>http://mensteppingup.com/a-huge-success/feed/0The Best I’ve Seenhttp://mensteppingup.com/the-best-ive-seen/
http://mensteppingup.com/the-best-ive-seen/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 16:57:32 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2632I recently ordered Men Stepping Up video series on the hunch that it was something I “might want to add to our men’s ministry, called I.R.O.N. Men. IRON stands for Integrity, Respect, Obedience and Nobility. Our life verse for this ministry is none other than 1 Cor. 16:13-14, a passage you highlighted in the first video session.

From the very outset, I have been drawn to this series and the impactful, powerful ways you communicate the roles and tasks of manhood from a biblical perspective, living out our faith in a hostile world. I have previewed the first six sessions and am excited about the last four, as well. The resource leaders you have utilized for this study are absolutely phenomenal and highly relevant and most articulate, sharing valuable insight and inspiration for Christian men.

We are planning a men’s retreat in early April to preview the first session. We already have an IRON Men study one night each week, which will incorporate the study, as well. I visualize us making this an ongoing men’s study for some time to come……..absolutely the best I’ve seen. Thank you for “stepping up” to help us “step up.”

Jim Steward

First Baptist Church

Norman Ok

]]>http://mensteppingup.com/the-best-ive-seen/feed/0I Need To Step Uphttp://mensteppingup.com/i-need-to-step-up/
http://mensteppingup.com/i-need-to-step-up/#respondFri, 27 Jun 2014 16:54:42 +0000http://mensteppingup.com/?p=2631I attended a Stepping up video Event yesterday in Albany Oregon. I have to say this was a wake up call and a great reminder that I need to step up to become a better leader in my household. Also a great reminder that I need to step up and gain courage to defeat the giants that have been hindering my walk with God. Going through this I definitely gained my “bearings” on what it takes to step up and become a man of God!